Current Projects

START Foundation Laying – Implementation Project
(2017-2020)

The original
START intervention was delivered within NHS service structures by psychology
graduates. The main purpose of this study is to widen access to the START
intervention by adapting it for delivery in the third sector and to Minority
Ethnic (ME) groups, within existing structures of the Alzheimer’s Society (AS)
and the South Asian community in the first instance.

In Phase 1 (Month
1-18) we will undertake focus groups and/or individual interviews, and consult
with Alzheimer’s Society stakeholders and family carers of relatives with
dementia from South Asian backgrounds (using translators as appropriate), to
inform changes to the START intervention. We will use the Consolidated
Framework for Implementation Research Tool (CFIR) to assess baseline barriers
and facilitators and the Knowledge-to-Action framework (KTA) as a guide for translating
findings into practice.

In Phase 2 (Month
12-30) we will implement the modified intervention, within existing structures
of the Alzheimer’s Society and the South Asian community respectively.

In Phase 3 (Month
20-33) an independent evaluation will assess the impact of the intervention
incorporating qualitative and quantitative information, using the RE-AIM
(Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) implementation
tool. Benefits are expected in terms of improved access for family carers
including those in hard to reach groups to START, as well as a template for
implementation of the START intervention in the third sector and for other ME
groups.